Feeling like a kid...

It seems like this time of year gets people a little more anxious, a little more hurried, a little more stressed which is odd because isn't it the time of year that more than ever we should be enjoying one another and feeling peace and mindful of the reason why we celebrate this season.

Don't get me wrong, there is something kind of fun about the hustle and bustle. Something invigorating about it all. And this year I have decided I do not want the holiday to pass by without remembering much from so much going on. We have been doing a Christmas activity every single night, which isn't always easy, but I am always super happy we did it. We have even played a game with Bennett every single night. I like that I will be able to look back and remember these moments.

This year I have been very blessed because I do not feel stressed or anxious at all. I got my shopping done early, kept everything pretty organized and once Bennett's school party was over, which was yesterday, I was breathing a lot easier and felt the Christmas spirit stronger than ever.

On the way to Andy's office today we all sang Christmas carols. I get tears in my eyes just thinking about their little voices singing to their little hearts content. Jadeyn did a little solo of Silent Night and I know that will be a moment I will think of fondly forever. Her tiny little feminine voice singing such a reverent song about such a wonderful night.

Tomorrow is my day to finish up my baking and the wrapping. Here is a little secret about me. I hate with a passion, wrapping. I detest it. Luckily my mom has offered to come and help. I always have visions of these beautifully wrapped gifts and then when it comes down to it, I go to get it done mode. Hopefully tomorrow will go as I hope in the wrapping department.

This was Andy's last day of work for four whole days. I was a like a little girl tonight when I got the call he was on his way home. I cherish every moment I get to spend with him. I adore that guy and honestly cannot get enough of him. Hands down, he is my greatest gift.

I normally get my cards out the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I like to get them out early. Not this year though. They will be more like New Years cards. I am really sad about that. I had the hardest time formatting my picture for the card and finally when I figured it out and got them sent out the return time was way longer than I expected. So hopefully they will be out in the mail tomorrow. I am really sad that they did not go out sooner!

I am overwhelmed by the Christmas spirit this year and am so thankful for it. I feel like I can pause more often to reflect on why this is such a special holiday. I feel like I can cherish each moment with my kids better and relish in my time with my sweet husband of mine. I am so happy for the next four days. The only thing I am sad about is it all ending.

I truly hope everyone enjoys this holiday season and can spend it with the ones you love the most. I feel like a little kid the days before Christmas. You can hardly contain your joy. I hope everyone can feel this same way this year. It is my Christmas wish.

Being preggo with number 6

Wow, can I just that this pregnancy could not be any different than my others? It is so weird! With my last pregnancy, I threw up every single day and I would say I averaged throughout the entire nine months, 9 times a day. Even the very last day of the pregnancy I threw up. I was so so sick. I took so many different meds, it felt like all the time and all I did was just lay on the couch. Which looking back, I am not sure how I did that with a 7 year old and two 2 years olds and a 1 year old...hmmm. I had to have Iv's because of dehydration and I could not even keep down the pills that were supposed to make me fell better. It was no fun.

This time around, even up to like week 10 at my first appointment, I even questioned if I was pregnant. I was not sick at all. Normally I feel it and throw up before I even take a pregnancy test and this time was so so different. No sickness at all. So crazy and weird. I am not complaining just not what I was used to and just didn't feel pregnant.

At 6 weeks I got really tired. I mean, REALLY tired. Like I seriously couldn't imagine making dinner or even pouring milk for breakfast. I dreaded walking up the stairs and that was when I decided every one will dress themselves. Crazy tired. So I thought, that would be my struggle this time.

At my 14 week appointment, the nurse said it should go away by about 14 weeks. I didn't believe her. That is what everyone said about being sick too. Never happened for me. But you know what? Later that week I got my energy back. I was like a mad woman around here. I went from barely being able to hold my head up, to the person I like to be. I got projects done like you would not believe, Christmas shopping done, house looking OH SO MUCH better. It was great.

I guess the one thing that I found to be on the bright side of being so sick with the others, is I was constantly thinking about them. Always connected to my sweet baby. Every time I would throw up I would just think how great it was going to be to hold my new precious baby. This time though, I have to literally remind myself I am even expecting.

The first trimester flew by and we decided it was time to tell our families. We waited to tell every one around 18 weeks which was Thanksgiving. I had great ideas how I was going to tell everyone and every single one of them flopped. For my family I had a shirt on Paxton that said big brother and no one got it. I nearly spelled it out for my mom, and nothing. Finally after a day of being with her, Bennett said, "Grandma do you get it???Paxton. Big brother?" Finally the light bulb went on. For Andy's family at Thanksgiving I was taking big group photos of everyone and for the last one I said, "Ok on the count of three every one say, Paxton is going to be a big brother!" Well there was so much talking and laughing going on, I am not sure anyone heard! Oh well. Every one know now either through that or cards I made and sent out and we are excited that everyone is in the KNOW now.

Our ultrasound was yesterday. We had gone back and forth about finding out this time. Let me say that I honestly believe it is crazy not to find out. I don't get it. I really don't. People say it is so fun to be surprised, but I am surprised at 20 weeks when I find out? I like to be prepared and ready to go, I want to truly enjoy this new person when they are born not be thinking about other things when they come into this world. That being said, everyone and their dog says to us, even when they did not know we were having another baby, "Oh we so hope it is a girl" and everything else attributing to us having a girl. Yes I would love another girl, for sure! I never though or expected Jadeyn to be my only girl. I always wanted a large family and I it was always important to me for my girls to have sisters and my boys to have brothers. So don't get me wrong, I would love another girl. Who doesn't love pink and all those cute girls clothes? BUT!!!! I will not be sad if this is a boy. I will be very very happy. In fact, I am so sure it is a boy for the past 16 weeks that I have connected to him. I know him. I have a bond with him. Already. If it is a girl as weird as this sounds, I will miss him, but will be extremely happy to hold a sweet little girl in my arms too! SO, either way we are thrilled beyond belief.

So we went into the ultrasound and after seeing everything looked perfect about 40 minutes into it, being that the baby is transverse, we could get no shot at all of any gender indicators. The cord is going right down the tummy and over the "parts". Andy and I were sure sure sure it was a boy, until we walked out of that room and we both looked at each other and said, "that was a girl?" So who knows...we don't. That is for sure.

I am hoping he will do another scan just so I can know. I really hope. I don't think I want to be on team green or yellow, but what team I do like being on is a mom to six! I am truly blessed.

I'm back in the blogging world

The night before my "babies" birthdays I always reflect on my good ole blog. Last night was no different. I was reading post from when they were wee ones and their birth story and all those fun little posts where they literally little babies. So adorable.

Then last night as we were blowing up 150 balloons, I was feeling a little down that I haven't been better about blogging. So I am hoping to start again. I am SO behind and that is honestly that was one of the reasons why I couldn't start back up. I am going to go from here though. I will recall special events that need to be remembered, but I am going to take my time.

I know how important it is to keep a journal of sorts. I love reading the things I wrote even just as of last year. It is fun to see the stages my children are in as well as myself.

So here is to a whole new blog life...it's a start!

The day I had been waiting for!

My babies are five today. It doesn't seem real or possible to be honest. How can five years really go that fast? I really can't muster up the words that really describe how I feel about my twins, as I sometimes refer to them. The love I have for them goes beyond words, beyond ways I could truly express what they mean to me and what they did for me.

After we had Bennett, I knew we wanted a large family and knew I wanted another little one fairly quick after we had Bennett. I thought we would wait a year and when Bennett turned a year old we were ready. I had already been pregnant twice before this moment, one ending in miscarriage and one ending with our beautiful boy, so I did not think for a moment we would have a hard time conceiving.

Well that simple dream crashed a burned about a year into "trying". We moved from Utah to Chicago to start our endeavor in dental school, took a short break from trying and regrouped and decided it was time.

Well throughout three very long years nothing was working. I felt broken. I remember every month that dreaded day, just having tears run down my face and question why this would happen to me. Why would such a righteous desire be with held from me? I was confused and hurt. I remember one particular night while saying my prayers, saying to Andy, "I would just rather have too many, than not enough babies." I only used the term too many because in my book, that did not exist. I rolled over that night and fell asleep crying and woke up crying.

A few months later Andy was video taping Bennett reading stories to his animals in bed and he kept calling them Jadeyn and Cortland. Andy, on video, said "who is Jadeyn and Corltand?" Bennett said, "They are my brother and sister. They are coming soon you know." Andy told him that brother and sisters normally come one at a time, but that did not discourage Bennett in the slightest. Bennett wanting a sibling SO bad did not help my wanting a baby so bad in any way. I was mourning for him now.

Cut to two or three months later while I was running on my treadmill the nurse called me and said, we got your blood work back and by the looks of your numbers, you could be having triplets. I remember the treadmill was still going strong and I was sitting right next to it and just began to cry. This time though, they were such tears of joy. Tears that had never felt so good.

I did not for a second believe that I was pregnant with triplets or twins for that matter, but it was confirmed that I was indeed pregnant. I felt as if I had waited for so long. I knew them instantly. I loved them beyond belief. They restored my faith in myself, in life. I felt like the family I had dreamed of was going to not just be a dream, but a reality.

Infertility is not a fun thing. It is tough. The thing that makes is so hard, is no one could understand the pain and grief it causes. Even if you have been through it. People would look at us now and never think we had fertility problems. We are expecting our 6th child for goodness sake. It just goes to prove you never know about any situation for sure. I am just so happy that through those years of wanting a baby, I was able to love on the baby I had. I am grateful for those moments in our lives because they made me stronger, they helped develop the person I am. They are moments I cherish and honestly think of fondly.

Today Jadeyn has had me tell the "birth day" story about five times already. Every time when I get to the part when I say, "The nice doctor handed me baby A and said, here is your sweet tiny baby girl!" she gets the biggest smile on her face and cannot contain her excitement. I know how she feels, because I feel it every time I think of that great day five years ago.

I am one lucky mama to have such beautiful, healthy children whom I adore. I feel blessed beyond belief. Happy Birthday to my sweet twins. I can not thank you two enough for blessing me with two more people to adore my whole life.

talkin' cookie

I am a cookie kind of girl. I don't care for cakes, I don't care for pies, I don't care for sweets a lot, but I do love cookies. I love a good chocolate chip cookie and peanut butter blossoms the best. Well that is until I came across this little beauty of a recipe. Oh. So. Good! You have to make these like right, right now! Of course they came from my beloved Pioneer Woman!

The Best Cookies you will ever eat!

{or at least I think so;)}

Ingredients
1 cup Shortening (Crisco)
1 cup Packed Brown Sugar
1 cup Sugar
2 whole Eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1-½ cup All-purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
3 cups Quick Oats
½ cups Finely Chopped Pecans
Preparation Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening with both sugars until well combined.
In a separate bowl, beat eggs together. Add vanilla and stir to combine. Add to the shortening/sugar mixture and mix well.
In a separate bowl combine the flour, salt and baking soda. Mix carefully into the egg/shortening mixture until well combined. Now add the quick oats and mix well again. Finally add the finely chopped pecans and mix well to combine.
Divide the dough in half and place each half of the dough onto a sheet of waxed paper. Roll the dough into a log and then wrap it tightly in the waxed paper. Now you can either chill or freeze the dough until later or you can go ahead and slice the dough evenly into cookie rounds.
When you are ready to bake them place them on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes until they are golden brown.

What I like to do is make about 4 batches and freeze three rolls! They are so nice to slice up when people are coming over or take to a friend!

A new blog

Every time we get back from Disney, I have so many things running through my mind and I think, I should just start a blog! This time, I did! IT is not that great by any means and in it's very early stages, but I can't stop thinking about things to put in there! So if you want to take a peak, even though it isn't quite ready yet, go ahead! Enjoy!

http://terica-disneytipsandtravelingtricks.blogspot.com/

Goals...

Am I the only one that is constantly setting new goals??? I think that with the start of the new school year, as this happens every year, it gives me the motivation to reevaluate and see what needs a little tune up.

This week I have a few goals that have to get done. First and foremost! LAUNDRY! We just got back from another Disney trip {more on that later} and I have mounds of laundry to do. I am just not looking forward to that. I don't mind doing it, it is the putting away and all that stuff that does not sound too fun to me.

Another goal for this week is to get this blog more current, print pics from my frames in the basement, and get my booty back to the gym! Even though I was sweating like crazy, Disney is NOT the place to go in August!, and was walking all day, I gained four pounds! That is frustrating. My treadmill is calling my name! I am also planning on finishing my cookbook that I have been working on for far too long!

My goals for this school year are just some that I am adding to my current goals. Like, I am making myself pack B's lunch every night before school. I also want to be better about making Bennett study. Last year he would come home without any homework ever, because he would do it at school, but I think it is good for kids to study every day to keep their brains going. So I have different things I am doing with him every day after school and then he gets to read for 20 minutes before he goes to sleep in his bed. I also want to be better about reading my scriptures. My day always ends up going better when this is done. So before the little ones get up, that is what I will be doing. I will also keep up with my marathon a week along with my 30 day shred every other day.

So there you have it. I am still not sure on this starting school stuff. I miss him. A lot. Every year about this time I wish I home schooled. Why do "they" get him the whole day?

Just playing!

This baby is just so much fun! He loves to play. He knows he is loved by all of us and we all love to play with him. He is so cute when he counts. He literally thinks you count like this...ONE, TWO, THREE, I get you! There is no four or he says I get you and then says four. Apparently we play a lot of tag around here! I love this boy and he is my baby and forever will be.

HE loved playing with this bundle we got from Sams. He would color on there, and play with his toys, it was like a little archetit desk. So cute!

They love this aqua doodle as do I. They all color on there forever! No mess, which is even better! Please note the denim diaper. How cute is that!

Looking old

At least I am not feeling old...yet.

I remember a few years ago a good friend of mine said that one day she was looking in the mirror and noticed lines and wrinkles that should could have sworn were not there the day before! I remember looking at these photos and thinking I am not longer in my twenties am I! I mean literally I am well beyond my twenties, but I feel like I am 24. That must have been a good year for me because when someone asks how old I am I always think 24! I am far far from 24, so I am not sure what that is all about.

Anyway, have fun dissecting this horribly looking old face!

Can we day deep wrinkle cream???

and holy bags under my eyes!

The Lazy Days of Summer

This poor little boy cannot keep pants up ever! It could have something to do with barely being 30 pounds and being 3 and a half!

This baby could not be any cuter!

I am not sure how this saying came about, but man this does not depict our summers. I had so many plans for this summer and feel like I never have time for anything! I have tried super hard to make time for our pool. I love having a pool. It is so nice! The kids are just little fishies. They would spend all day there. I just love being there because nothing else is on our minds, but enjoying being together!

Desperate Times...

Certainly call for DESPERATE MEASURES!!!

These photos would be even funnier if the were turned the right way! We went to my grandparents house for dinner and somehow left the house without diapers. Well Paxton had a little accident and we needed a diaper. Luckily my grandma had some of these on hand. {she would kill me if she knew I was posting this, but she does not even have a computer so I know she will not be checking out the ole blog anytime soon!}

While outside getting ready to leave Andy was laughing so hard and I could not for the life of me figure out what was so darn funny. Then he lifted up Paxton's shirt and told me he didn't have a diaper so he looked around and found this! I laughed so hard and I am still chuckling every time I think about it. How super funny is this?

Cobbler anyone?

Andy's parents have a blackberry bush that gives tons of blackberry's and we are always the lucky recipients of lots and lots of blackberry's. You name it and we have tried it with blackberry's. My favorite is blackberry yogurt, which is big for me because I cannot stand that stuff. We also like it in smoothies or shakes, but we always make lots and lots of times is The Pioneer Woman's Blackberry Cobbler. It is SO Divine! Here is the recipe. Go to your in laws right now, get some blackberry's and bake away!

Pioneer Woman's Blackberry Cobbler

Ingredients
1 stick Butter
1-¼ cup Sugar
1 cup Self-Rising Flour
1 cup Milk
2 cups Blackberries (frozen Or Fresh)
Preparation Instructions
Melt butter in a microwavable dish. Pour 1 cup of sugar and flour into a mixing bowl, whisking in milk. Mix well. Then, pour in melted butter and whisk it all well together. Butter a baking dish.
Now rinse and pat dry the blackberries. Pour the batter into the buttered baking dish. Sprinkle blackberries over the top of the batter; distributing evenly. Sprinkle ¼ cup sugar over the top.
Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour, or until golden and bubbly. If you desire, sprinkle an additional teaspoon of sugar over the cobbler 10 minutes before it’s done.

The Magic House

I remember when I was in the third grade we took a field trip to the Magic House and it was sure a special treat. I dreamed of going back there with my kids and said I would take them there all the time. Well we have lived here for three years and we finally made it.

There is a website called groupon and they send you specials everyday and this particular day was for the magic house. You got 5 tickets for 20 bucks. That is a steal. I think tickets are normally 12 maybe...not sure on the price, but still a great deal! So we grabbed some of those up and off we were the very next day.

The kids loved it and we all had a good time. We stayed there pretty much the whole day and then finished the day off at the Home Goods Store, one of my personal faves, El Pollo Loco and topped it off with Dunkin Doughnuts which just came back to the Lou. It was such a fun day. It felt like we were back on vacation. I just love all these moments with my little family. There is nothing better!

How cute is it that they walk hand in hand?

Literal musical chairs

Pax was in Heaven with all the balls!

Be in a bubble!

Concentrating!

This was my favorite little spot. It was like a little market. We had so much fun shopping and then paying for it and playing with the cash registar. So cute and fun!

How adorable is this...I want to do this in my future house someday!

T-Ball

Entirely too many t-ball pics

I have no idea why they are not turned the right way...this bugs me!

With their coach who was so cute with them.

J with her trophy!

Getting her trophy. The coach said cute little things about each one of them.

Cort excited about that trophy!

Madd man.

Cute Cort.

I LOVE these two photos. She would start her throw like the photo above and end it with the photo below. How stinkin' adorable is that?!?

This little guy kept up with the rest of him and for being so little he sure had some power behind his hits!

Little P diddy had to be in on the action!

Maddox being stylish on the field.

J preparing to bat!

Keeping up with his brothers and sister!

We made up like 87% of the team. Good thing we made it to all of the games!

These three played t-ball this year. Luckily the parks and rec department allowed my three year old to be on the four year olds team. They had so much fun. I just love these little guys playing. It is so adorable!